CERT partners with Dassault Systèmes to develop advanced 3D digital design & manufacturing expertise

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) - The Centre of Excellence for Applied Research & Training (CERT) partners with Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions and search based applications, to boost the UAE’s burgeoning digital-based economy by developing cutting edge engineering programs based on PLM solutions.

An agreement was signed today by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chairman of the Board of CERT Group of Companies and Philippe Forestier, Dassault Systèmes Executive Vice President of Global Affairs and Communities.

This ambitious long-term program will allow the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Research, through the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and its commercial arm CERT, to develop world-class PLM curricula for its tertiary students, as well as providing Dassault Systèmes-certified continuing education offerings for professionals.

Under the agreement Dassault Systèmes will provide technical assistance to HCT to develop and operate a world class outreach education program designed to maintain the intake of UAE nationals in HCT’s technical disciplines.

The parties will also explore opportunities for CERT to provide training services in the use of Dassault Systèmes Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) family of software throughout the UAE.

Going far beyond a simple software acquisition, the program being developed with Dassault Systèmes and its local partner DASBAT touches the core of the UAE’s education system. It includes various facets such as expert advice, course material, faculty training, certification, student internships and industry study tours, outreach projects to promote engineering careers to the UAE society and schools, and visiting lecturers selected amongst Dassault Systèmes’ international industrial and academic partners.

Dassault Systèmes, which is part of the global Dassault Group, will utilize its ground-breaking and innovative CATIA virtual design solution in the future engineering programs operated through CERT and HCT. CATIA is used extensively throughout the world as a design tool in the aeronautical, automotive and building industries. In Abu Dhabi only, it has been used to design the Yas Hotel, the Gary Player Saadiyat Beach Golf Course Clubhouse and Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum.

Dr Tayeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology and Chief Executive CERT Group of companies, said CERT and HCT were fulfilling their respective mandates by partnering with a technology leader such as Dassault Systèmes to develop a range of technology and education solutions which will help the UAE economy.

“CERT and HCT continue to deliver innovative and cutting-edge courses so that graduates are actively sought by UAE industries for their technical and communications skills and for their adaptability to actual workplace conditions,” Dr Kamali said.

“This strong partnership with Dassault Systèmes in the area of 3D design programs will ensure that the student graduates are in demand for their skills as part of the UAE’s growing economy, and in the regional and global business communities.”

“This dedicated program will express its values in many strategic sectors of the UAE economy – providing students with the highest education standards, preparing them for exciting technical careers within the ambitious projects developed by the UAE industry.”

The industry sectors will include aerodynamics design, composite aero structures, space, automotive, virtual reality-based eco-design or genomics research.

Philippe Forestier, Dassault Systèmes Executive Vice-President Global Affairs and Communities commented: “Dassault Systèmes and the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Research with HCT and CERT represent the perfect match that will allow the efficient ramp-up of the number of trained technicians and engineers to support the fast growth of PLM adoption in the UAE and in the region. This partnership is the bright illustration of a fruitful long-term relationship between the Dassault group and leading institutions in the Emirates.”

General (Ret.) Khalid Al Bu-Ainnain, Chairman of DASBAT, said: “The program will contribute to the achievement of a knowledge-based digital economy in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. We are very proud to put this high technology in the hands of HCT under the vision and leadership of HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan.”

“DASBAT is thrilled to see CERT and HCT taking full advantage of PLM solutions and gain competitiveness in the quickly transforming UAE economy.

“The initial deployment of CATIA virtual design solution started in 1998 in the UAE Air Force’s Flight Test and Development Center (FT&DC) and at UAE University. Due to the accelerated growth of the UAE industry, the solutions under deployment within UAE customers now not only include CATIA but also SIMULIA for realistic simulation, DELMIA for digital manufacturing, ENOVIA for collaborative PLM, 3DVIA for realistic 3D experience and EXALEAD CloudView for search and search-based applications.”